Photographic album page and method of making same

ABSTRACT

A photographic album page formed of a single blank of paper progressively folded to form three plies including apertured outer laminae and a centrally disposed inner lamina therebetween. Photographic prints are positioned and frictionally maintained between one of the outer laminae and one surface of the inner lamina to be removed or adjusted as desired. The inner lamina includes laterally extending projections positioned outwardly of the side edges of the outer laminae to facilitate insertion of prints into pockets formed therebetween. By forming the entire page from a single elongated web, a continuous line operation employing automated production machinery is possible.

United States Patent [1 1 Holson Mar. 11, 1975 1 PHOTOGRAPHIC ALBUM PAGE AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME 211 Appl. No.: 422,992

Prir nary Examiner--Robert W. Michell Assistant Examiner-Wenceslao J. Contreras Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Charles E. Temko [57] ABSTRACT A photographic album page formed of a single blank of paper progressively folded to form three plies including apertured outer laminae and a centrally disposed inner lamina therebetween. Photographic prints are positioned and frictionally maintained between one of the outer laminae and one surface of the inner lamina to be removed or adjusted as desired. The inner lamina includes laterally extending projections positioned outwardly of the side edges of the outer laminae to facilitate insertion of prints into pockets formed therebetween. By forming the entire page from a single elongated web, a continuous line operation employing automated production machinery is possible.

1 Claim, 7 Drawing Figures PHOTOGRAPIIIC ALBUM PAGE AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to the field of photographic albums for the storage of prints, and more particularly to an improved page therefor which may be formed of a unitary blank of fibrous material glued in laminated condition to form pockets for the frictional retention of prints inserted thereinto. Devices of this general type are known in the art, and the invention lies in specific constructional details permitting lowered cost of manufacture and facilitated use.

It is known in the art to laminate paper stock to form pockets for print reception, and to provide means on a transverse edge thereof for incorporation into a looseleaf or other type binder. Other constructions include the provision of a paper base lamina, the opposed surfaces of which are coated with a pressure-sensitive adhesive to which a transparent lamina of acetate or vinyl material is selectively adhered, prints being retained between the base and the transparent lamina.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION Briefly stated, the invention contemplates the provision of a single blank of web paper stock which is progressively apertured, embossed and glued in overlapped condition to provide a tri-laminar page having a solid centrally disposed base lamina and a pair of outer laminae having rectangular or other apertures overlying a surface of the base lamina. The other laminae are glued to the base lamina to define a plurality of transversely extending pockets having openings along the longitudinal edges of the page for the insertion of photographic prints to be frictionally retained beneath an aperture in the respective outer lamina. The single blank forming means for interconnecting all of the lamina permits the manufacture of the page as a continuous line operation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings, to which reference will be made in the specification, similar reference characters have been employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. I is an elevational view of a rectangular blank of material from which the entire device is formed.

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the blank after cutting, embossing and the application of glue to the blank.

FIG. 3 is an elevational view showing the blank in partially folded and glued condition, illustrating a step subsequent to that seen in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a similar elevational view, showing the blank completely folded and glued, and illustrating a step subsequent to that seen in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view as seen from the plane 5-5 in FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view as seen from the plane 6-6 in FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view as seen from the plane 77 in FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSED EMBODIMENT In accordance with the invention, FIG. 1 illustrates a rectangular blank 10 of material from which the page is formed. The blank 10 is bounded by longitudinal side edges 11 and 12, and end edges 13 and 14. Fold lines 15 and 16, rectangular apertures 17, and longitudinal edge segments 18 are indicated in dashed lines in FIG. 1, the lines 15 and 16 being subsequently scored, if necessary, and the apertures 17 and edge segments 18 being subsequently severed as a first step, wherein the blank assumes the appearance shown in FIG. 2.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the blank is now bounded by cut side edges 19 and 20 which form a plurality of projecting tabs 21. Cut rectangular apertures 22 may be provided, if desired, with an embossed border 23 in the centrally disposed third of the blank. A second set of apertures 24 having embossed borders 25 is positioned in the righthand third of the blank, so that when the blank is folded about the fold lines 15 and 16, the apertures 22 will be placed in congruent relation with respect to the apertures 24 on either side of the lefthand third of the blank.

An adhesive is then applied to a plurality of transversely extending areas 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 and 32, this adhesive preferably being in the form of a strong glue or cement in the interests of mechanical strength, rather than a pressure-sensitive adhesive.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 5, the leftwardmost third (FIG. 2) of the blank is folded through degrees to lie upon an inner surface of the middle third of the blank, thus forming a central lamina 35 and a first outer lamina 36. This operation is followed, as seen in FIGS. 4 and 6 by the folding of the righthand third of the blank to overlie the opposite surface of the lamina 35 and form a second outer lamina 38. Following this, holes 39 may be punched for the accommodation of a loose leaf binder, or other well known means (not shown) may be employed in the case of a permanent binding. As seen in FIG. 6, the apertures 22 and 24 are now in congruent relation on either side of the central lamina 35, and since the outer lamina 36 and 38 are glued only along transversely extending lines 25-32, inclusive, there are formed a plurality of pockets 43 of a width corresponding to that of the prints 44 disposed therein (FIG. 7).

Prints are inserted from the longitudinal edges of the page, the tabs 21 assisting in opening of the pockets, and are moved inwardly until they are opposite the desired aperture, at which point they are frictionally retained. In the case of prints which are centrally located in the pockets, they are moved past the peripherally located aperture by contacting the surface thereof through said aperture until they are located at the desired position.

It may thus be seen that I have invented novel and highly useful improvements in a photographic album page, which, by virtue of being formed from a single piece of material, may be manufactured as an inline operation, requiring only cutting, embossing, gluing and folding steps to form a completed page. Since the device is made entirely of paper, the cost of materials is low, and mechanical strength is high. Where desired, the central lamina may be printed with solid colors on either or both services to more clearly outline the apertures, and present an attractive appearance where the pockets are not completely filled.

I wish it to be understood that I do not consider the invention limited to the precise details of structure shown and set forth in this specification, for obvious modifications will occur to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains.

I claim:

1. A photographic album page comprising: a unitary blank of paper having a principal longitudinal axis, including a first lamina imperforate throughout its extent and having a pair of opposed longitudinal edges, a free transversely-extending end edge and an oppositely disposed fold edge, said first lamina having a plurality of laterally extending tabs projecting outwardly of said longitudinal edges; a second lamina hingedly interconnected to and foldably overlying said first lamina and having longitudinal edges coaxially disposed with the longitudinal edges of said first lamina, said second lamina having substantially uniformly sized apertures eX- tending through the plane thereof in elongated areas perpendicular to said longitudinal edges, said second surface of said tabs. 

1. A photographic album page comprising: a unitary blank of paper having a principal longitudinal axis, including a first lamina imperforate throughout its extent and having a pair of opposed longitudinal edges, a freE transversely-extending end edge and an oppositely disposed fold edge, said first lamina having a plurality of laterally extending tabs projecting outwardly of said longitudinal edges; a second lamina hingedly interconnected to and foldably overlying said first lamina and having longitudinal edges coaxially disposed with the longitudinal edges of said first lamina, said second lamina having substantially uniformly sized apertures extending through the plane thereof in elongated areas perpendicular to said longitudinal edges, said second lamina being interconnected to a surface of said first lamina in elongated areas to define a first set of print-retaining pockets underlying said apertures, and accessible from openings thereto adjacent said laterally extending projections; and a third lamina similar to said second lamina, hingedly interconnected to said second lamina and interconnected to an opposite surface of said first lamina to define a second set of pockets substantially congruent to said first set of pockets, and accessible from openings disposed adjacent an opposite surface of said tabs. 